Denver Broncos News Blogs - Friday, Oct. 28

Bronco hurt in crash - Denver Post - Bill Williamson
10/28/2005 0- Agent James Field was going to make his first trip to Denver this year to see longtime client and close friend Dwayne Carswell play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Field was hoping to see if Carswell could repeat his NFL-record feat of catching two touchdown passes as an offensive lineman, as he did in his hometown of Jacksonville on Oct. 2. Instead, Field will soon be visiting Carswell at Aurora South Medical Center, hoping the genial man teammates call "House" will return home soon. Carswell suffered season-ending injuries in a car crash Thursday morning in southeast Aurora.

Swing game can bury more talk of swoon - Denver Post - Mike Klis
10/28/2005 - If all goes well for the Broncos, Sunday will be trash day. Three seasons of this 5-1 swoon garbage is piling up. The Broncos were 5-1 in 2003, yet reached the season's midway point 5-3. Again in 2004, the Broncos were 5-1 only to lose their next two games and enter the second half 5-3. This season? The Broncos were 5-1. The general feeling, though, was this 5-1 was better than the other 5-1 starts. This year's 5-1 record came against a tougher schedule. It was built by a mistake-free offense, and noticeably improved defense and punting. Even the most ardent skeptics were beginning to soften. Then the Broncos blew a 13-point fourth-quarter lead last weekend against the New York Giants and lost 24-23. Uh-oh. Denver is 5-2. For Week 8, the Broncos could have used a gimme opponent such as Houston or San Francisco or any team from the NFC North. But the Broncos get the Philadelphia Eagles. The defending NFC champion, Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens-led Eagles. The game will be played Sunday before an anxious sellout crowd at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Eagles' McNabb brings "fun" element to Invesco Field - Denver Post - Bill Williamson
10/28/2005 - The Broncos love to blitz. Donovan McNabb loves to be blitzed. Sunday, something has to give. "He's not afraid, that's for sure," Denver defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said of the Philadelphia quarterback whom Coyer has had to scheme against since McNabb was at Syracuse and Coyer was at Pittsburgh. "He wants you to blitz him. ... So you can't do it too much against him." McNabb has completed 53-of-88 passes while being blitzed. His 53 completions are the second most in the NFL behind New England's Tom Brady. The Broncos pressured Brady effectively in their 28-20 win Oct. 16. However, Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver knows McNabb will be awaiting the blitz.

Broncos brace for Eagles' blitz - Rocky Mountain News - Jeff Legwold
October 28, 2005 - Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer has seen the videos. The thrills, the chills - a nonstop action ride. So when Plummer looks at Jim Johnson's defense, is it hard to figure out just exactly when the Philadelphia Eagles will blitz? "Well, no," Plummer said. "Every play you just assume he's coming. Some teams, you know it's coming every once in a while. This team, you just prepare to see it every snap. And when they don't blitz, then you deal with that. "But every play you have to be ready for them bringing some gas. Be alert and find all the guys."

Carswell critical after crash - Rocky Mountain News - Jeff Legwold
October 28, 2005 - In what sometimes can be the week-to-week world of the NFL, the Broncos gazed into the big picture Thursday. Guard Dwayne Carswell remained in "critical but stable condition" and in intensive care at The Medical Center of Aurora's South Campus on Thursday night because of internal injuries he suffered in an early morning car accident.

Defense not too worried about 'shifty' Westbrook - Rocky Mountain News - Lee Rasizer
October 28, 2005 - The Philadelphia Eagles repeatedly have shown a certain flair. Brian Westbrook, a Pro Bowl selection in his first season as member of Philadelphia's starting backfield, leads all NFL running backs in catches (35) and receiving yardage (367). He had 10 receptions for 75 yards in Sunday's victory against the San Diego Chargers. But Westbrook doesn't just come out of the backfield. The Eagles also align him as a receiver in an attempt to create mismatches. The Denver Broncos believe their lateral quickness can help counteract Westbrook's effectiveness.

Tale of the tape has been going the Broncos' way - Rocky Mountain News - Lee Rasizer
October 28, 2005 - John Lynch put both palms facing the sky and resembled a juggler as he furiously and repeatedly waved his arms up and down. The Denver Broncos safety wanted to alert the bench that a sideline catch by the New England Patriots' David Givens on Oct. 16 wasn't what it seemed as the receiver went sprawling out of bounds. Lynch's histrionics were demonstrative but effective as the red challenge flag was thrown from the sideline. The safety knew he had ripped the ball loose as Givens fell.

Broncos prepare for Eagles' tough defense against run - Daily Camera - Ryan Thorburn
October 28, 2005 — Reality bit many fantasy football players last weekend thanks to Philadelphia's defense, which held statistical super man LaDainian Tomlinson to seven yards rushing on 17 attempts (0.4 per) during the Eagles' 20-17 victory over San Diego. The Chargers, who are still ranked ninth in the NFL in rushing offense, finished with 21 yards on 20 carries as a team. That doesn't mean the Denver Broncos are going to change their game plan against Philadelphia on Sunday at Invesco Field.

Unlike one-sided Eagles, Broncos are a well-balanced team - Mercury News - Kevin Mulligan
Fri, Oct. 28, 2005 - PHILADELPHIA - It used to be that the head football coaches and offensive coordinators of the Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles could pop each other's offensive game tape in a projector and swear they had an NFL double. There was West Coast offense. There was production. There was explosiveness. There was run-pass balance. There were various paths to victory and the postseason. How things have changed as the two teams prepped for Sunday's 4:15 p.m. EDT clash of contenders in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains. Mike Shanahan can't hold his offense up to a mirror this year and see the Eagles, the team that seemingly is phasing handoffs out of the playbook as it leads the NFL in passing (299.7 yards per game). Denver, on the other hand, has always mixed the run into Shanahan's offense.

Close to Their Hearts - Denver Broncos.com - Andrew Mason
Friday, October 28, 2005 - The Broncos normally close their practices by gathering in a team huddle, yelling "Broncos!" in unison and galloping off to the locker room. Thursday was anything but a normal day, with a practice under anything but normal circumstances, as the thoughts of the players drifted towards offensive lineman Dwayne Carswell, who earlier that day had undergone surgery for injuries sustained in a rush-hour car crash just a few miles from team headquarters. As they gathered at the close of practice Thursday afternoon, the traditional group yell changed. "House!" the team bellowed, loud enough to be heard nearly 100 yards away.